A defiant Chris Donovan said he has done nothing wrong, was unaware of an FBI investigation and won't resign as House speaker over allegations his congressional campaign accepted illegal donations.

Donovan addressed the media Sunday evening in Meriden after his campaign finance director, Robert Braddock Jr., was arrested last week. Donovan has fired Braddock, who is accused of conspiring to hide the identity of a donor who allegedly offered $20,000 in bundled donations for help in defeating a state bill that would have taxed roll-your-own tobacco. That donor was an undercover FBI agent.

The donation would violate a state law limiting donations to $7,500 to a congressional campaign and funneling money through straw donors.

"Let me be very clear about this: At no time did I know that anyone might have been trying to funnel illegal contributions to my campaign," Donovan told a reporter for CT Mirror.org. "No one ever made a deal with me as a quid pro quo."

Donovan, who has represented Meriden in the General Assembly for 20 years, is a candidate for Congress in the fifth district.

The FBI says Donovan is being treated as a witness, not as a target of the investigation.

Donovan explained that he was limited in what he could say on advice of counsel.